The Beginning of The End
Chapter 19

My head pounded as I slowly woke up, realising that I wasn't alone in the bed, arms wrapped around me, keeping me close. I looked back in both fear and curiosity, the dragon king holding me as he snored softly, how did we end up like this? All I remember was him carrying me back to the castle, but then I must have fallen asleep, but why didn't he just leave me locked in this windowless room alone?

What did he want from me?

I tried to wriggle from his tight grasp, but only succeeded in him waking up, his fiery eyes locking onto my face as he smirked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Good morning my beautiful fae." He purrs, kissing the top of my head.

I frowned in confusion, "W-what do you want?"

"I want you; I want my mate." he sighs, letting me go so that I could sit up.

"Mate?" I whisper, all the colour draining from my face. "I can't be."

He watches me, the anger that normally clouds him not present. "I know that you are, I knew the moment I met you, you are mine Elora, the other half of my soul." he sighs, "I might have obtained you the wrong way and we got off to a rough start, but I don't want to hurt you, that was never the plan."

"But you did hurt me, you killed people that I cared about and took me against my will. I can't be yours; I won't be." I shook my head, backing away from him.

He growls, his temper slowly rising. "You are mine Elora; I cannot let you leave."

I began to panic, trying to replace a way out of this. I couldn't be his mate, they were rare and almost unheard of, a gift from the moon and sun.

"Why? Why would you even want a fae as a mate, aren't you immortal? I'm not, I'll die." I murmur, leaning against the wall as I wrap my arms around myself, feeling the loss of his touch.

"You won't, once we are bound it'll immortalise you." he smirks, walking towards me and placing his hands at either side of my head. "You are mine little fae, mine and Maddox's, he feels the bond as well, that's why you are still alive, you are meant for us. You are meant to be here."

I deflate, knowing that I had no chance of escape, if I truly was their mate, they would replace me wherever I went. They would feel me through the bond, and I wouldn't, not until we finished the mating ceremony, fae only feel the connection when the souls our bound as one. But both Maddox and Ryker? Why and how? I had never heard of a fae having two mates, it was unheard of.

"What are you going to do to me?" I ask, shaking in fear.

He lightly strokes my face with the tips of his fingers. "I am going to take care of you, keep you alive, I am going to protect you and cherish you until you learn to accept me."

"What if don't want to accept either of you?" I whisper, my voice small and timid.

"You don't have a choice Elora, but your mind will change once the bonding ceremony is complete."

I doubted that my mind would ever change, but what choice did I have? I was bound

to them by fate, they had been chosen for me by the gods, but did that mean I could forgive all that they had done?

I didn't think that I could.

**********

We were sat at the table in the dining room, my head lowered as I thought about all that had happened, but it was strange, even after such a short time of knowing her, I missed Miya. She was like a rock I didn't know that I needed, she grounded me when all I wanted to do was float away and pretend none of this ever happened. She wasn't physically strong enough to fight, and she was just a human girl, but I cared for her deeply.

I just wish that I could replace out if she was alright, at least then I could have some piece

of mind, maybe one day help her if I truly was the Dragon king's mate.

I hardly noticed when Maddox took the seat beside me until he roughly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Now, now little fae, it isn't nice to ignore someone when they are talking to you." he chastised me, a smirk in the corners of lips. "Oh..." I whisper, "I'm sorry I didn't realise."

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"Have a lot on your mind girl?" one of the vampires chuckled, he had ginger hair and fiery orange eyes, the eyes of a beast.

He was much taller than I was, much stronger too, all the creatures in this room were stronger than me, they could kill me before I could even blink and I would be powerless to stop it.

"I guess so." I murmured, not really wanting to speak to any of them as I tugged my chin from the hellhounds grasp. "A lot has changed suddenly."

Ryker watches me with hooded eyes, but says nothing as he eats quietly, Maddox on the other hand wouldn't allow me a second's peace.

"I must say I didn't expect your burst of power yesterday, I am still thinking of ways I can punish you for misbehaving." He chuckled, winking at me.

My anger boiled within me, "I couldn't think of anything worse than spending my life with you, so I have been punished enough."

"You are alive, you should be thankful for that." Ryker scowled, placing his drink onto the table with a slight bang.

I shrug, looking down at my hands. "Life means nothing if you have nothing to live for."